Venus Williams is back at the Cincinnati Open, defying every expectation concerned with age in professional sport.
At 45 years old, Venus made history at the Washington Open, defeating Peyton Stearns to become the oldest winner of a WTA Tour match since Martina Navratilova, who won a match at 47 years old in 2004.
Despite her health and injury struggles, Venus flouted the laws of nature by also winning a doubles match at the Washington Open while paired with Hailey Baptiste.
Venus has since travelled west to the state of Ohio to compete in the Cincinnati Open.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion spoke to reporters before her first-round match, expressing her love for the Cincinnati Open.
Venus Williams says the Cincinnati Open is ‘the pinnacle’
Speaking to reporters in Cincinnati, Venus said: “This event has always been so exciting. The fans travel from all over the US to come here. You can just see them coming, when you’re in the airport you see them all coming, and that part has been very exciting.
There are very few chances to play in the States now as an American, so I personally cherish any opportunity to play at home.
“The crowd has been just insane and fantastic here, which is just… it’s such a great feeling to have that support.
“And obviously this is the pinnacle right? I don’t want to compare any other tournaments to this because there’s only positives to focus on but this is the level tournaments should aspire to.”
Venus also spoke about the Cincinnati Open’s redevelopment. The tournament has undergone a $260 million renovation.
Venus said: “Yeah I haven’t been here in a while so it was an amazing surprise to see the site redeveloped, and also in such a short time, and I think this is a great representation of what tennis should be, that we should always be progressing forward and super happy to, you know, perform here.
“It’s like tennis paradise [smiling].”
Venus Williams’ first-round opponent in Cincinnati
Venus Williams’ task was made no less easy after discovering her first-round opponent.
The 45-year-old will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, who reached the quarter-final stage of the Canadian before losing to Canadian 18-year-old Victoria Mboko.
Venus will be hoping to replicate her form in Washington, while Bouzas Maneiro will look to go a few steps further in Cincinnati than she did in Montreal.
The pair are due to face off in Cincinnati at 6:20 pm GMT on Thursday.
